Jovan Belcher’s Mother Says Argument Over Daughter’s Paternity May Have Led To Murder-Suicide

The Long Island mother of Kansas City Chiefs football player Jovan Belcher told investigators her son argued with his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins over their baby’s paternity before he shot her dead and killed himself, The Post has learned. Cheryl Shepherd — who was in her son’s suburban Missouri home the morning he shot Perkins nine times — told investigators after the shootings that there were questions about whether the West Babylon, LI-raised linebacker was the father of the couple’s 3-month-old daughter, Zoey, said sources familiar with the situation.

“The mother believed that there was an issue over whether [Belcher] was the father,” said a source close to the Chiefs with knowledge of the situation.

“She said he [believed he] wasn’t necessarily the father of the child.”

A Kansas City law-enforcement source confirmed, “She told [police] there was a question about the paternity.”

It’s unclear if the paternity issue was the reason for the final, violent end of the troubled relationship between Belcher, 25, and Perkins, 22.

“But the implication was that [paternity] was what the two of them were fighting about — that the baby might not have been his,” a source said.

Not that this doubt justifies Belcher’s actions AT ALL, but at least this provides more insight as to WHY he would even consider carrying out such a heinous act.

Perkins’ family — who brought Zoey to a Texas memorial for her slain young mom last week — indicated that they will be involved in her upbringing.

“We will raise Baby Zoey in the knowledge of the love from which she was born,” Perkins’ family said in a statement.

The “loyal, honest and trusting” Perkins, they said, “was dedicated to starting her new family and beyond excited about being a mother to her sweet baby.”

There was no mention of Belcher at the service.

Family members declined to comment on the paternity issue.

“There has been a disheartening amount of rumors and speculation surrounding the tragic loss of our Kasi,” the family statement said.

“No one will every truly know why this happened, nor is there anything to be said that could justify or ease our pain.”

Obviously, we don’t have all the facts to conclude whether Jovan is Zoey’s biological father or not, but if he isn’t, then how “loyal, honest, and trusting” was Kasandra? We’re not going to slander a dead woman, but if it’s found that Belcher is not daddy…it just makes this story that much worse.